|
Support the Monkey! Tell All your Friends and Teachers |
||||
 |
||||
|
Support the Monkey! Tell All your Friends and Teachers |
||||
|
|
||||
|
Steep is th' ascent, and, if he gains the land, The purple death is pitch'd along the strand. His eager foe, determin'd to the chase, Stretch'd at his length, gains ground at ev'ry pace; Now to his beamy head he makes his way, And now he holds, or thinks he holds, his prey: Just at the pinch, the stag springs out with fear; He bites the wind, and fills his sounding jaws with air: The rocks, the lakes, the meadows ring with cries; The mortal tumult mounts, and thunders in the skies. Thus flies the Daunian prince, and, flying, blames His tardy troops, and, calling by their names, Demands his trusty sword. The Trojan threats The realm with ruin, and their ancient seats To lay in ashes, if they dare supply With arms or aid his vanquish'd enemy: Thus menacing, he still pursues the course, With vigor, tho' diminish'd of his force. Ten times already round the listed place One chief had fled, and t' other giv'n the chase: No trivial prize is play'd; for on the life Or death of Turnus now depends the strife. Within the space, an olive tree had stood, A sacred shade, a venerable wood, For vows to Faunus paid, the Latins' guardian god. Here hung the vests, and tablets were ingrav'd, Of sinking mariners from shipwrack sav'd. With heedless hands the Trojans fell'd the tree, To make the ground inclos'd for combat free. Deep in the root, whether by fate, or chance, Or erring haste, the Trojan drove his lance; Then stoop'd, and tugg'd with force immense, to free Th' incumber'd spear from the tenacious tree; That, whom his fainting limbs pursued in vain, His flying weapon might from far attain. Confus'd with fear, bereft of human aid, Then Turnus to the gods, and first to Faunus pray'd: "O Faunus, pity! and thou Mother Earth, Where I thy foster son receiv'd my birth, Hold fast the steel! If my religious hand Your plant has honor'd, which your foes profan'd, Propitious hear my pious pray'r!" He said, Nor with successless vows invok'd their aid. |
